Snapping-button.



. :PATENTED' AER. 7,1903,

. E. 1). GONKLIN. SNAPPING BUTTON. I APPLIQATIQN FILED JAN. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

' a I BY I I OJTTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. CONKLIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITEI-IEAD (it HOAG COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ACOR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SNAPPINGI-BUTTJON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,545, dated April 7, 1903. Application filed January 5, 1903. Serial No. 137,767. (No model.)

in such manner that by depressing its free end a snapping sound is produced.

The object of this device is to mount the snapping spring or leaf upon a button or concavo-convex disk in such manner that the button or disk acts as a sounding-board toincrease the snapping sound of the buckled leaf or spring when operated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the snapping-button complete. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken, respectively, on lines 2 2 and 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are perspective views showing, respectively, the outer and inner button sections and the snapping leaf or spring.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In carrying out the objects of this invention a flat spring-leaf l is'indented or kinked at 2 near its central portion for the purpose of buckling the leaf, so that when one end is held fixed and. the other end is depressed a snapping sound is produced. This leaf may be mounted in any desired position relatively to a sounding-board or button-section 3, but is preferably inserted in guideways 4. of a metallic shell or separate button-section 5 in such manner that one end is free to be depressed manually for producing the snapping sound, the'other end being held from movement by the guideways 4. These guideways engage the longitudinal edges only of the leaf 1; and the indentation in said leaf is preferably disposed between the guideways in transverse alinement with the front edges of the ways, which front edges serve as a fulcrum upon which the free end of the leaf operates. The operation of indenting the leaf to produce the buckling effect tends to form said leaf slightly concavo-convex and it is inserted in the ways 4 with the convex side toward the sounding-board or button-section 3, these ways being usually inclined inwardly longitudinally fromjtheir outer ends, so as to throw the free end of the leaf outwardly away from its support to leave ample room for the depression of'said free end of the leaf. In order that this support may be produced as economically as possible, I usually stamp or press the same into a cup-shape form and then stamp out of the body the ways 4., which are'then bent inwardly toward each other to receive and support the leaf, this main body of the support 5 being also cut out at 6 to receive the free end of the leaf and permitthe same to be readily depressed to produce the snapping sound. By thus forming the support 5 cup shape a flange 7 is formed, after which the two sections 3 and 5 are brought together, with the flange 7,resting against the inner face of the section 3, and then the edge of the section 3 is crimped or turned over upon the flange 7, which forms a flange 8 upon the section 3. This section 3 is preferably composed of an inner sheet-metal portion 9 and an outer capor cover 10 of celluloid or similar material, upon which may be printed any advertising matter, if desired, this outer cap or cover serving to give a neat and finished appearance to the device.

Itis evident from the foregoing description that the main body of the support, which carries the snap-leaf l, is separated fromthe main body of the section 3, and an air-chamber is therefore formed between the main bodies of the sections 3 and 5, which adds to the acoustic properties of the button, and when the free end of the button is depressed a much louder snapping effect is produced than would be the case if the leaf were held at one end against a solid body without the sounding-board 3. It may be further stated that when the leaf is placed in operative position upon the support 5 a slight space is formed between the main body 10 and adjacent concave face of the leaf, which permits the outward movement of the indented portion of the leaf when the free end is de- I having oppositely-turned flanges interlocked with each other for forming an air-space between their main bodies and a spring snapping-leaf attached to one of the main bodies.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 1 hand this 30th day of December, 1902.

' EDWARD D. CQNKLIN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. J ONES, STEWART J. J ARVIN. 

